NEW YORK – Though it comes surrounded by the elements of science fiction, the premise of the NBC series "Debris" isn't, in some respects, all that far removed from real events.

In fact, viewers familiar with the recent incident in which United Airlines Flight 328 rained wreckage onto the suburban lawns of Broomfield, Colorado, may wonder if this is an example of art imitating life.

Created by J.H. Wyman, the series – layered with intrigue that should appeal to fans of escapist fare – premieres Monday, March 1, 10–11 p.m. EST. It will continue in that time slot throughout its 13-week run.

As an alien spaceship crashes, pieces of it are scattered across the Western Hemisphere. The result is a series of unexplained, often deadly, phenomena affecting those who come into contact with the detritus. British intelligence agency MI-6 and the CIA combine forces to investigate these preternatural occurrences.

This sets up the dynamic between British operative Finola Jones (Riann Steele) and American agent Bryan Beneventi (Jonathan Tucker) that constitutes the core of the show. Both understand that the organizations they represent are rivals, each angling to gain the upper hand in the investigation and hoping to take credit for its successful resolution.
[[In-content Ad]]

Finola and Bryan are also noticeably different in their outlooks. This quickly becomes apparent in the pilot. Open to the point of being credulous, Finola observes grandly, "What we're doing here will absolutely change the course of humanity." To which the skeptical Bryan counters: "it may be the end of humanity."

Finola is all the more easily carried away because her father, George (Tyrone Benskin) "was the first astrophysicist to be told the truth about what they found." And that experience, she says, "finally made him believe again."

Viewers willing to overlook the farfetched nature of the proceedings will find in Finola and Bryan's divergent attitudes alternate prisms through which to assess the eerie events with which they're grappling. In the initial installment this mostly concerns the fate of Wichita, Kansas, wife and mother Amy Morrison (Amanda Marier).

Not only was Amy's death mysterious, she also experiences a bizarre type of earthly afterlife, her body levitating above the prairie. Others, Finola and Bryan eventually discover, have been consigned to a similar limbo.

Such sights are obviously too frightening for kids. Depictions of violence, a high body count as well as the emotional intensity and otherworldly themes of the narrative also suggest an adult audience.

Based on the premiere episode available for review, however, the show is free of sexual content, nudity or objectionable language. So parents may feel comfortable allowing mature teens to watch it.

Although the excessive reverence with which some characters treat the remains of the fallen craft becomes irritating, the show does succeed in establishing a spooky atmosphere. And the effort to figure out exactly what's going on and just how various people fit into the unfolding circumstances will keep viewers engaged.

Add to that the intriguing plot twist with which the kickoff concludes and the potential for "Debris" to rank as above-average entertainment becomes apparent. The evidence of a pilot alone, though, is too scanty to tell whether this promise will ultimately be fulfilled.

Byrd is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.